Sirius looked up from his breakfast of eggs and ham at the flurrying of wings. The owls were entering the Great Hall delivering the morning mail. A snowy white owl dropped the Daily Prophet for Remus and waited until he gave it three knuts before spreading its wings and taking flight. Across from him, Lily was grinning as three owls carefully dropped a large parcel in front of her. It landed in her eggs, but she didn't seem to notice.
"What's that, Lil?" James asked suspiciously.
"My sewing machine."
"Whatcha sewing for?" Peter asked through a mouthful of toast.
"I'm making my own dress for the Winter Formal," she replied. "I'm going to charm my sewing machine to do all the work."
"Brilliant," Remus nodded appreciatively.
"What's that?" Peter asked suddenly and all heads turned to look at Sirius who was holding some parchment in his hand.
"A letter from Mum," he replied darkly.
"I thought she disowned you," Remus said, a slight frown forming as his eyes flickered over to Sirius' letter beside him.
"Oh she did," Sirius replied nonchalantly. "She only owls when I've done something particularly bad or when Regulus has done something particularly good."
"And what has little Reggie done this time?" James asked, glaring across the hall at the Slytherin table where Sirius' little brother was sitting.
"Nothing," Sirius muttered as he finished reading the letter. "Don't worry about it."
He scrunched the letter into a ball and threw it on the table. He drew his wand and muttered "Incindio." The letter went up in purple flames which quickly died, leaving ashes on the table.
"Show off," James said playfully. Sirius went back to his breakfast and the rest followed, quickly forgetting about his letter.
James and Sirius were walking towards the Great Hall for lunch after Transfiguration when Sirius became aware of Regulus walking along down the corridor in the opposite direction.
"I'll meet up with you later," Sirius said quickly and walked towards his brother briskly.
James nodded and descended the marble staircase, not noticing Sirius grabbing Regulus by the robes and pulling him into a deserted corridor.
"Sirius! What are you doing?" His brother exclaimed as Sirius pushed him into a wall. Sirius easily overpowered his younger sibling and grabbed his throat with one hand and his hands with the other.
"Interesting letter from Mum today," Sirius growled.
"What are you talking about?" Regulus gasped.
"So, her little Reggie wants to be a Death Eater, is that right? Must make you happy to see them so proud after being in my shadow for so long."
"No, that's not it," Regulus said. He looked like he was going to say more, but thought better of it and shut his mouth.
"What the hell are you playing with? People are going to die, Regulus. Voldemort is murdering muggles and wizards in cold blood. You want to be a part of that?" He spat the last word and stared at Regulus in disgust.
Regulus stared back at him defiantly and then looked over Sirius' shoulder quickly, his eyes widening. Before Sirius had a chance to react, a sharp pain shot through his body, from his shoulder down to his toes. He dropped Regulus and fell to the ground. He shut his eyes against the blinding pain, but to no avail; it continued to shoot through him making his muscles spasm. It finally died away and Sirius started to get up only to be kicked back down. He looked up into the grinning face of Avery, a sixth year Slytherin.
Avery kicked him again, hard in the ribs. Sirius struggled to regain his breath and desperately wished that his wand hadn't fallen out of his robes and been kicked down the corridor. Avery cast a spell Sirius didn't recognize and the room started spinning. He felt nausea grow in the pit of his stomach and tried to close his eyes against the spinning room. Another hard kick in the ribs forced his eyes open again, this time to see another Slytherin, Rockwood, glaring down at him.
"This will teach you," Rockwood sneered before pulling Sirius to his feet and punching him in the lip. Sirius tried to block another punch from Rockwood but the strange spinning sensation wouldn't stop and he had trouble co-ordinating his movements. A warm, wet feeling down his chin told him that his lip was bleeding. He could taste the metallic taste of blood in his mouth and his nose was throbbing after a few punches. He fell to his knees despite his desire to remain standing, remain strong. The three Slytherins stood in front of him, laughing at the fallen Gryffindor. Regulus had a strange expression on his face, somewhere in between pity and loathing. Footsteps were heard echoing through the empty corridor adjacent to the one they were in and the Slytherins turned their heads in apprehension.
"Come on!" Regulus shouted and the three Slytherins scurried off like cockroaches away from a light, leaving Sirius lying alone on the cold marble floor.
"You seen Sirius?" Remus asked James as they finished their lunch of tune casserole.
"He was right behind me, and then he said he'd meet up with me later," James replied with a half-shrug. "I'm sure he's fine."
"It's just not like him to miss lunch that's all," Remus said uneasily.
"We could check if he's in our room," Peter suggested. "It has been an hour."
"Alright, let's go," James agreed and the other two followed him out of the Great Hall and up the stairs to Gryffindor Tower.
They opened the door to their room to see Sirius sprawled on his bed, bleeding from the nose and lip.
"You look like hell," James observed, an eyebrow cocked.
"What happened?" Remus asked quickly. All three crossed the room to Sirius' bed.
Sirius opened his mouth to speak but his swollen lip made it hard to understand what he was trying to say. They caught enough jumbled phrases to piece together that he had been cornered by Avery and Rockwood after he had been questioning Regulus.
"Wait, Regulus a death eater?" Remus asked in disbelief.
Sirius gave a dull nod from his bed. James gave a low whistle and shook his head.
"We've got to get rid of these bruises," James said matter-of-factly. "If McGonagall sees these, she'll ask questions and we don't really want her to know that Padfoot might have instigated it."
"Good point," Remus said thoughtfully.
"How are we going to get rid of those bruises?" Peter asked, motioning broadly to Sirius.
"I don't know," James admitted.
"Wait –"Remus started, "there's this potion Madam Pomfrey uses that makes bruises and cuts disappear. They still hurt a bit, but you can't see them."
"Well, mate, you're shite at potions and I'm not much better," James said glumly.
"I could try," Peter said eagerly.
"No," James, Remus and Sirius said simultaneously. Peter turned a bright shade of red and went to sit on his bed.
"Hold on. What about Myra?" Remus suggested, "She's brilliant at potions."
James shrugged. "Owl her and ask then."
Remus scribbled a quick note and gave it to James' tawny owl, Alexander.
They waited a few moments, then there was a pecking on their window. Alexander fluttered in, a note on his leg.
Remus,
Of course I'll make the potion. Is Sirius okay? The best one would be 'Bruisebegone' but it requires Phoenix's tears which are only in Wickle's private stash. Not that I'd recommend breaking in there, but this really is the quickest, most effective potion I can find. I'll bring the rest of the ingredients and meet you at Gryffindor Tower.
Myra
Remus read it aloud and looked up to see James already grabbing his invisibility cloak.
"Be careful," Remus cautioned. James nodded and then he was gone. The door squeaked open and closed again, apparently on its own accord.
"Peter, go wait for Myra outside," Lupin instructed and Peter left without a question.
"Thanks," Sirius croaked from the bed.
Remus didn't reply. He didn't need to, he knew Sirius would have done the same for any one of them.
Ophelia leaped onto Sirius' bed from her perch on his dresser and licked the blood off his face with her pink tongue. When she was done, she mewed softly and curled up on his chest. Sirius stroked her, trying to ignore the pain in his ribs from where Rockwood and Avery had kicked him.
"You do look like hell," Remus said after a while. Sirius started to smile but then winced and closed his eyes.
"Still spinning," he murmured.
"That will wear off," Remus said reassuringly even though he wasn't entirely sure it would.
After what seemed like ages, Peter came back with Myra behind him. She gasped when she saw Sirius.
"How long will it take?" Remus asked briskly, referring to the potion.
"Twenty minutes?"
He nodded, sat on his bed cross-legged and watched her work. She really was in her element when it came to making potions. She opened, poured and corked vials so quickly that Remus became uneasy.
"You're sure you can do this?" he asked, worry scrawled across his face.
Myra gave him a look and he fell silent, leaving her to her work.
She didn't turn around from where she was sitting on the floor when the door creaked open and only started when a beaker of Phoenix's tears seemed to appear out of nowhere. Remus had to smile at the look of surprise on her face which was quickly replaced with annoyance when she remembered James' invisibility cloak.
She scowled at him and then used a dropper to add three drops of Phoenix's tears. The cauldron in front of her hissed and started to steam before settling down into a translucent shade of blue. The four boys looked at her in anticipation.
"Okay," she said finally. "It's ready."
Peter gathered Ophelia in his arms while Myra poured the 'Bruisebegone' into a cup she had brought with her. Remus stayed on his bed and observed every move she made, every once in a while glancing over at Sirius who still appeared to be under the influence of Avery's spell, as he was trying to sit up only to collapse back into his pillow.
Myra sat beside Sirius on the bed and tilted his head up gently with her left hand. With her right, she poured the contents of the cup down his throat.
"Swallow," she instructed and he did. Then, like magic (which of course it was), the bruises and cuts faded into his skin and he was back to his regular handsome self.
"Thank you," he said softly and she suddenly realized how close she was to him. Her left hand was still resting behind his head while her other had come to rest on his chest, the cup forgotten on the nightstand. There was a moment when he was staring into her green eyes, and she into his grey ones, then he blinked and the moment was gone.
"Right, I'd better clean this up," Myra said quickly and stood up. Peter helped her gather ingredients into her now clean cauldron. James grinned at having his Padfoot back again in one piece.
"Thank you," James said to Myra over his shoulder as he walked towards Sirius. Myra just nodded, not accustomed to being the centre of attention. She swept out of the room before Remus could say thank you, gone as quickly as she had come.
The ball was quickly approaching, and every day it seemed Lily was making it her personal mission to remind Myra of this very fact. Likewise, James was 'helpfully' reminding Sirius and Remus.
"Lily, I just may not find someone to go with," Myra said for what seemed to be the twenty seventh time.
"You haven't even asked anyone!" Lily replied in exasperation.
"Well, there's no one I particularly want to go with," Myra shrugged. This was perhaps not entirely true. There was a certain dark-haired Gryffindor she had her eye on, but she blushed and grew queasy at the very idea of asking him.
"Okay, fine," Lily finally resigned, "Go alone, see if I care. In the meantime I need to make sure the prefects are doing their jobs and don't you have Herbology?"
Myra glanced quickly at her watch and stood up abruptly. It was a good thing she wasn't too far from the greenhouse. She ran half the way and arrived out of breath. The only seat left was beside Sirius, which she thought a little odd, but she took the seat and pulled out her Herbology book.
"Books and wands away," Professor Sprout instructed. "Pull out your dragon hide gloves. Today we will be working with Dragonsnappers. They are carnivorous plants, and a bite could be lethal. Today you have the pleasant job of muzzling these little guys so they will not bite when I later need to groom or cultivate them."
Professor Sprout walked up and down the aisles, handing a potted Dragonsnapper to each pair. Myra eyed hers with distaste. It looked similar to a muggle venus fly trap, only with beady little eyes sitting atop it's small head. There were about a dozen little heads, all moving in different directions and snapping at each other.
"This looks like fun," Myra muttered as Sirius pulled on his gloves.
"Why don't you try and hold them while I harness them?" Sirius suggested. He picked up the small harnesses that looked suspiciously like elastic bands except for the fact that they were silver and had a faint glow.
"Alright," Myra said reluctantly. She studied the plant for a moment, trying to ascertain the best angle at which to grab the heads. She reached out for the small head closest to her and held its mouth shut with her index finger and her thumb while Sirius slipped on the harness.
"That wasn't so bad," she said triumphantly. Sirius nodded and glanced sideways at her. He suddenly reached out and swept back a piece of her hair from her face.
"They were trying to get it," he said, waving towards the Dragonsnappers which were now snapping more fervidly.
"Oh, thanks," Myra said and pulled her wand from her robes. She pulled her hair into a bun in one fluid motion and stuck in her wand to hold it in place. Sirius studied her for a moment before turning his attention towards the vicious plant in front of them.
"Let's try another one," Myra said quickly, very aware of how Sirius had been studying her.
She reached out to capture another Dragonsnapper but the one beside it swept down and bit her, though the gloves absorbed most of the pressure. She pulled her hand back quickly and studied the plant again, not noticing that Sirius was studying her at the same time. She reached in again only to pull her hand back seconds later as two Dragonsnappers bit her.
"Here, let me try," Sirius said and handed her the silver restraining devices. He reached in delicately and easily grabbed one of the Dragonsnappers. Myra quickly pulled on the harness and they both pulled their hands out.
"See?" he said with a smug look.
"So, do you always get what you want?" she asked, half-teasing.
He shrugged, "Usually."
"Must be nice."
"Well, my life isn't always a picnic," he replied a little darkly.
"I wouldn't imagine so, I was just saying that it seems like you always get any girl you have your eye on."
"I hope that continues, as I have my eye on one in particular and am hoping she will go to Winter Formal with me," Sirius said slowly as he grabbed another Dragonsnapper. Myra quickly harnessed it.
"I'm sure she will," Myra replied, a little disappointed as although she hadn't actually planned on asking Sirius to Winter Formal, the thought was in the back of her mind.
"There's only one way to find out," Sirius said knowingly. Another two Dragonsnappers were harnessed. Sirius held another Dragonsnapper in his hand, dodging the one adjacent to it that seemed quite livid. Myra put the harness on and was going to pull her hand out when Sirius spoke.
"So, will you go with me?" he asked. He felt strangely nervous as if it was the first time he was asking someone out.
Myra turned towards him quickly, forgetting that her hand was still in amongst the pot of Dragonsnappers, five of which were still snapping with a vengeance.
"Ow!" She shouted as two bit her.
"Easy...," Sirius said softly and put her hand in his. "Will you?"
"Did Remus put you up to this?" she asked, suddenly self-conscious.
"No, of course not," he said quickly. "Well, he may have suggested it but I assure you the invitation is coming of my own free will. I want to go with you, will you go with me?"
Myra nodded and a smile crept on to her face.
"Good," Sirius nodded to himself, satisfied.
They muzzled the other Dragonsnappers in silence, every once in a while stealing glances at one another. At the end of the class Sirius walked her to Ravenclaw tower.
"So, I'll see you," he said with a smile.
"Yeah, I'll see you," she replied and watched as he turned down the hall before bursting into the common room and rushing upstairs to tell her roommates who had just asked her to Winter Formal.
The news of Sirius and Myra going to formal together spread like wildfire, even by Hogwarts standards. Since Sirius was the most eligible bachelor in seventh year, more than a few witches were annoyed with Myra for snagging him.
"You already have a boyfriend!" she exclaimed to one Slytherin who had insulted her in the hall, claiming Sirius shouldn't be going with a mudblood, but a pureblood like her. The Slytherin walked away with her nose in the air, leaving Myra staring at her in exasperation.
Of course, not all witches had been upset. Quite a few had been happy for Myra, Lily included. After Myra had told her Ravenclaw roommates, she went down to the Quittich pitch where she knew Lily would be watching James practice.
"Guess who asked me to Winter Formal?" Myra asked eagerly, her face flushed from running most of the way.
"Who?" Lily said, smiling.
"Sirius Black!" Myra squealed, unable to contain her giddiness.
Lily looked back at her with an expression of confusion, not what Myra had expected. "Sirius? I thought James mentioned Remus was going to ask you."
"Remus? Why would Remus....," Myra trailed off and Lily watched as comprehension crept onto her face. "Oh..," she said softly and sat down beside Lily in the stands.
"I'm sorry, My. I didn't mean to tell you, it just slipped," Lily apologised and slipped a hand over her best friend's shoulder.
"I should have known. I've been an idiot," Myra said, staring down at her feet. She paused and then, "I can't believe I asked Remus to ask Sirius..." She groaned when she realized that Remus had suggested that Sirius go with her to Winter Formal.
"Hey," Lily said softly, "Sirius wouldn't have asked if he didn't want to go with you, and Remus wouldn't have suggested it to Sirius if he didn't want you to go with him."
Myra nodded distractedly.
"I feel awful."
"Don't. You're going with Sirius Black to Winter Formal!" Lily exclaimed, a grin spreading across her face. Myra couldn't help but grin back at her.
Her face suddenly fell.
"There's only a couple weeks until formal! What am I going to wear?"
Lily laughed and told her not to worry about it, that she had taken care of it. Myra looked at her in confusion but Lily just shushed her and told her to go back inside before she froze to death. It had in fact started snowing and Lily pulled on her mittens and pulled the hood of her cloak over her head. Myra smiled gratefully at her friend before heading inside, countless thoughts swimming inside her head.